Herpetofauna observed at Sungai Sedim, Kedah

SEAVR 2016: 88-90
ISSN : 2424-8525
Date of publication: 27 June 2016
Hosted online by ecologyasia.com
Herpetofauna observed at
Sungai Sedim, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia
Nick BAKER
nbaker @ ecologyasia.com
Observers: Nick Baker, Graeme Guy.
Photographs by: Nick Baker.
Subjects identified by: Nick Baker, Leong Tzi Ming.
Location: Hutan Lipur Sungai Sedim, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia. (Lat 5° 24.82'N Long 100° 46.86'E)
Elevation: 125 metres.
Habitat: Lowland primary forest, adjacent to fast-flowing, rocky river (Fig 12.) fed by small forest streams.
Date and time: 23 June 2016 12:00 hrs to 24 June 12:00 hrs.
Identity of subjects and descriptions of records:
1) River Toad, Phrynoidis aspera (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae),
one seen at the edge of a forest trail at night, Fig. 1.
2) Kuhl's Creek Frog, Limnonectes kuhlii (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae),
one seen in a shallow forest stream at night, Fig. 2.
3) Poisonous Rock Frog, Odorrana hosii (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae),
two seen on a steep embankment at night, 100 metres from the main river, Fig. 3.
4) Green Crested Lizard, Bronchocela cristatella (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae),
one seen searching for prey amongst leaf litter by day, Fig. 4.
5) Dusky Gliding Lizard, Draco formosus (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae),
four seen on the trunks of tall trees by day, Fig. 5.
6) Black-bearded Gliding Lizard, Draco melanopogon (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae),
abundant : more than twenty seen on different tree trunks and buttresses by day, Fig. 6.
7) Marbled Bent-toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus quadrivirgatus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae),
one seen on the forest floor at night, Fig. 7.
8) Frilly Gecko, Hemidactylus craspedotus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae),
one seen resting on a tree trunk by day, Fig. 8.
9) Kuhl's Gliding Gecko, Ptychozoon kuhli (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae),
one seen resting on a chalet by day and active at night, Fig. 9.
10) Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko, Ptychozoon lionotum (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae),
one seen resting on a chalet by day, Fig. 10.
11) Spotted Forest Skink, Sphenomorphus scotophilus (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae),
three seen late afternoon, active on tree buttresses, Fig. 11.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
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Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 10.
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Fig. 11.
Fig. 12.
Remarks: Sungai Sedim is a fast-flowing river, with numerous rapids dominated by granite outcrops and large
granite boulders. It is sourced from the western flanks of the Banjaran Bintang mountains, and its steep slopes
support relatively undisturbed lowland primary forest. The three species of anuran and eight species of lizard
presented here were found during a brief overnight trip to the Hutan Lipur (= Amenity Forest) of Sungai Sedim.
Seven of the eight species of lizard listed here are documented by Grismer (2011) as being extant at Sungai
Sedim: only one species, the gliding gecko Ptychozoon lionotum, is not mentioned. The species is considered to be
uncommon in Peninsular Malaysia, and this record may be the only encounter formally documented for Sungai
Sedim and the Banjaran Bintang range.
The three frog species presented here are typical components of the amphibian fauna near undisturbed riparian
habitats in lowland Peninsular Malaysia.
Reference:
Grismer, L. L. (2011). Lizards of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and their Adjacent Archipelagos. Their
Description, Distribution, and Natural History. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main. 728 pp.
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